Lyoto Machida credits a disgusting habit for helping him become a UFC champ
01/05/2025 03:13 PM
Former UFC champion Lyoto Machida utilized the strangest pre-fight routine you’ve probably heard of en route to earning the light heavyweight belt.
Lyoto Machida is regarded as one of the greatest UFC light heavyweights in the promotion’s history after a decorated career inside the Octagon. He defeated the likes of Randy Couture, Shogun Rua, and Rashad Evans during his UFC tenure.
Machida’s high-level striking, combined with a slick ground game, made him a headache for his opponents inside the cage. He began his career 16-0 and knocked out Evans at UFC 98 to become the UFC’s light heavyweight champion.
Aside from technique and grit, Machida’s UFC success is also attributed to a bizarre routine he used during his career, including ahead of his title win against Evans.
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Lyoto Machida drank his own urine during his fight camps
In a 2009 interview with Brazilian outlet Tatame, Machida said he routinely drank his urine before his world title fight against Rashad Evans.
"My father did that for a long time and brought it to us,” Machida said. “People think it's a joke. I never said it in the United States because I don't know how the fans will react. I drink my urine every morning like a natural medicine." (h/t Yahoo Sports)
In a separate interview with Ariel Helwani in 2010, Machida’s father, Yoshizo, explained the method behind the madness.
“Sometimes it’s sweet, sometimes it’s salty, it all depends on what you eat,” Yoshizo said. “It’s like a vaccine, when you take a vaccine for a disease, you’re taking it for what you’re trying to fight against…it’s for a health reason. When you eat, and you digest all the food, it flushes your system out when you drink your own urine.”
Machida’s routine inspired other UFC legends, like Fabricio Werdum, to try it out themselves. But none of them tallied the results like Machida.
Lyoto Machida’s disgusting habit adds to UFC lore
Machida’s left MMA fight came at Bellator 281, falling to Fabian Edwards by first-round knockout. Before a four-fight losing streak, Machida earned recent wins over Chael Sonnen, Vitor Belfort, and Eryk Anders.
According to WebMD, there’s no evidence of health benefits surrounding urine ingestion. But that didn’t stop Machida from utilizing the head-scratching routine during his career with positive results in the cage.
Machida is one of many UFC fighters who utilized unconventional practices ahead of fights. From Diego Sanchez’s controversial work with Joshua Fabia to Georges St-Pierre’s nipple-twisting, fighters are a rare breed.
